Genetic control of the immune response to myoglobin. IV. Mouse antibodies in outbred and congenic strains against sperm-whale myoglobin recognize the same antigenic sites that are recognized by antibodies raised in other species

The determination of the entire antigenic structure of sperm-whale myoglobin (Mb) was initially performed with antisera raised in rabbits and goats. Subsequently, we demonstrated that the synthetic antigenic sites were effective in stimulating in vitro mouse T-cell proliferation and that this proliferative response was under genetic control, with each antigenic site being controlled by a unique Ir gene. To determine unambiguously whether T-cells recognize the same molecular features as do B-cells, it was necessary to establish whether mouse antibodies are directed against these same sites. In the present work, using immunoadsorbent titration studies, these synthetic antigenic sites were shown to bind mouse ¹²⁵I-labelled antibodies against Mb. With each of three outbred mice and four congenic strains, the total amounts of antibodies bound by the five sites accounted quantitatively for the entire antibody response against Mb. Moreover, with the four congenic strains, only the sites that were active in T-cell proliferation bound significant amounts of antibodies. It was concluded that (at least for Mb) the molecular features recognized by B-cells are also recognized by T-cells. These studies also confirm that the antigeniclty of the sites Is Independent of the immunized species and is inherent in their three-dimensional locations.